Hello, new to power boats, old sail boat guy

[BVrolyk]

Hello,

I've been sailing every sort of sailboat all my life. Lots of long distance cruising and racing as well as a live time of daysailing and racing locally. Now, as ancient-curmudgeon status approaches, my lovely understanding wife has strongly suggests we get on the water aboard something that doesn't require halyards, sheets, and reefing. I can't say I blame her, she's right as usual.

As a result, we're hunting around for the right size and shaped engine driven craft that will still feel like a boat to the two of us. We've spent a lot of time aboard lovely wooden sailboats that feel cozy and cave-like. The idea of big windows, sliding doors, and no flapping sails is hard to get used to, but we'll try.

See you all on the threads.

Beau

 

[JackConnick]

Good luck, I made the move 3 years ago and am very happy.

 

[BVrolyk]

Good luck, I made the move 3 years ago and am very happy.

Thanks. We still have an old schooner, and the plan was to simply use her as a trawler once we were too old to sail. But, she is such a great sailing boat, she really needs to be sailed. So, we're branching out and will give trawlers a try. We still have the schooner that we can sail when we want to round up a crew. But for the wife and me, a mini-trawler seems like the right size.

 

[PierreR]

Welcome aboard, I made the switch about 25 years ago and never looked back. I did however stick with full displacement power boats instead of planning or semi displacement hulls. Our present boat is very comfortable.

 

[BVrolyk]

Hello,

I've been sailing every sort of sailboat all my life. Lots of long distance cruising and racing as well as a live time of daysailing and racing locally. Now, as ancient-curmudgeon status approaches, my lovely understanding wife has strongly suggests we get on the water aboard something that doesn't require halyards, sheets, and reefing. I can't say I blame her, she's right as usual.

As a result, we're hunting around for the right size and shaped engine driven craft that will still feel like a boat to the two of us. We've spent a lot of time aboard lovely wooden sailboats that feel cozy and cave-like. The idea of big windows, sliding doors, and no flapping sails is hard to get used to, but we'll try.

See you all on the threads.

Beau

I think I should provide more information about what we're considering for our first "power boat".

1) Room for six. That doesn't mean three staterooms each with their own head/shower and maid service. Remember we're sailors, so that means that my wife and I get a double, everyone else is sleeping on a single or a "couch" in the saloon. To be more explicit, I used to go on cruises on powerboats as a young man where I had to sleep on the saloon cabin sole.

2) A galley in the same room/level as the main cabin. This is what "House Hunters" would call an "Open Plan" if it was a house. But, for us this is mandatory. My spouse and I love to cook and we don't want to be stuffed into a down-front galley area passing food up to the party.

3) We're not into water sports. Duh! We're old. As a result, we do not need a cockpit with a fighting chair, or 6 different water-sports toys, or a slide from the top deck to the water.

4) The main saloon should include:
4a) The galley and the place to eat
4b) Places to sit for folks too old to stand but want to be in on the action
4c) A way to see out at what's going on outside

5) The places to sleep/shower should include:
5.1) A really great place for us - we own this tub. !!
5.2) All berths should accommodate folks up to 6'4" - we have tall kids
5.3) Lots of room on the saloon seats and the cabin floor for kid-parties. These are when you invite your 7 grandkids to each bring one friend with the stipulation that they are going to sleep on the floor, and like it. We've found that our grandkids LOVE IT.

6) Always safe, even in bad weather:
6.1) We're not interested in SPEED. If we wanted to go fast we'd take an airplane.
6.2) We want to coach our grandkids on how to stand watches, chart a dead reckoning and advance a line of position, and keep a weather eye out. But, through it all we want a boat that won't let us down.

That about sums it up. Thoughts??

Cheers,
Beau

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Bacchus]

Welcome aboard TF

 

[PierreR]

​

BVrolyk you don't say what you budget is. There are a lot of boats out there that might fit most of your wants list because your wants list is pretty generic. Where are you going to use it and how far do you plan on taking it? Still pretty tough to get a Grandma/Grampa boat and a kids dream boat all in one.
Don't rule out the cockpit or a flying bridge. Cockpits make getting on and off the boat easy and handling aft lines. Flying bridges are great gathering spots in nice weather.
My boat screams the old sailors power boat. A heavy full displacement long range, slow stabilized boat with low freeboard, 18" walk around side decks with 30" tall hard railings, very few steps with double hand rails, large useful heads and plenty of storage. In our case the master stateroom has the DESIRED menopause layout. extra length twin beds on either side of the stateroom with the AC blowing more or less onto only one of the beds and a walk-in closet. The second stateroom is nearly equal and perfect for another couple or visiting family.

 

[Jeff F]

Welcome. Given your taste in sailboats how about something like this?

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1931-boeing-custom-6402563/

 

[NWboater2]

That is stunning.

 

[Blissboat]

Welcome aboard the TF, Beau. There's never been a John Alden design that was anything but beautiful. Kudos to you and your wife for continuing to care for a 1947 vintage Alden schooner. Would love to see a photo or two!

Your enumerated list of power boat wants and needs in #5 above is well thought out. It's also achievable, at a price. Off the top of my head, you're describing a 49' Grand Banks Classic. They're no longer in production, but plenty of them are still around and, given their high initial cost when new, they tend to have remained in the hands of responsible owners. When looking at an older GB, that really matters. Their original build quality was excellent, among the best of any production motor cruisers, but unless scrupulously maintained, they do not age well.

 

[BVrolyk]

Welcome. Given your taste in sailboats how about something like this?

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1931-boeing-custom-6402563/

Jeff -- that is a wonderful old boat. Around the SF Bay it's getting harder and harder to find a marina that will take wooden boats. We know, we have an 80' LOA wooden Alden schooner. That said, it's all about conditions. I'll take a hard look at this boat. -- Beau

 

[BVrolyk]

Welcome aboard the TF, Beau. There's never been a John Alden design that was anything but beautiful. Kudos to you and your wife for continuing to care for a 1947 vintage Alden schooner. Would love to see a photo or two!

Your enumerated list of power boat wants and needs in #5 above is well thought out. It's also achievable, at a price. Off the top of my head, you're describing a 49' Grand Banks Classic. They're no longer in production, but plenty of them are still around and, given their high initial cost when new, they tend to have remained in the hands of responsible owners. When looking at an older GB, that really matters. Their original build quality was excellent, among the best of any production motor cruisers, but unless scrupulously maintained, they do not age well.

Thanks. As someone who owns a boat built in '47. I understand a lot about maintenance. That said, we looked at over 12 Alden schooners when looking for one. Most we walked away from immediately because they'd never had a major rebuild. MAYAN was almost entirely rebuilt, Hull and Deck, in 2005 by a master shipwright named Wayne Ettel, of San Pedro CA. As a result, we knew that the deck and hull were fine. That means we only had the interior restoration to dig into, and the normal maintenance. We did have a few surprises. The Survey didn't discover that the cockpit floor was rotten, as it was covered up with a 3/4" sheet of plywood attached to the bottom of the cockpit floor beams. That entailed a new cockpit which allowed us to expand the fuel thanks to 200 gal total, make the cockpit foot well smaller so if (when!) a large wave comes over the stern the cockpit holds less water, and to reconstruct the sidewalls of the cockpit with new teak that is all varnished.

The other major effort was taking decades of white paint off the cabin sides, hatches and various other bits. Re-rigging her back to her original gaff foresail, marconi mainsail, and single jib vs fore staysail and yankee. I'll try to attach a few pictures. I haven't done that here on this forum previously. But you can always take a look at the following links.

Schooner Mayan

Schooner Mayan is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Schooner Mayan and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

https://medium.com/schoonermayan

MAYAN - The chronicles of our schooner

MAYAN - The chronicles of our schooner

schoonermayan.blogspot.com

 

[nwh10]

Beau, she is magnificent!

 

[Moonfish]

Welcome aboard!

 

[mvweebles]

Beautiful boat. I browsed the links provided - trips to Tinsley Island gave the first breadcrumb of St Francis YC but further reading stated you are commodore of the club. Guessing a fairly social person holds that post so larger boat with space to entertain is in order.

While I have never been aboard a larger Fleming, the lines would fit in well at the StFYC docks. They are well into 7-figures so it certainly depends on budget.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats-for-sale/make-fleming/

Or a more modest price point but we'll respected Tollycraft. This 57 is $339k and is stabilized. Interior looks nice albeit a bit dated. Lines are not as nice as the Fleming.

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1993-tollycraft-pilothouse-9436819/

Offshore makes a decent boat that has classic lines similar to the Fleming. This 62-footer is priced just under $1m

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2000-offshore-yachts-62-pilothouse-9610350/

Finally, a classic Stephens built not too far from Tinsley in Stockton. More of a motor yacht design that, unfortunately, frequently have a galley down. But is a classic that would be worthy of replacing your Alden Schooner at the docks. This is likely an aluminum boat but not sure. Since it has a raised aft deck, boarding would require a stairway of some sort so not as convenient as a cockpit motor yacht such as the prior listings above

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1968-stephens-motor-yacht-9342788/

Folks on TF love to play matchmaker - budget is a consideration of course. Given your description of kids and grandkids, ice skewed to pretty large boats especially for SF Bay. But if something smaller makes sense, guide us and someone will pickup the hunt.

Peter

 

[BVrolyk]

WOW! Thanks for the help. I've been aboard a number of Fleming yachts and while they are our favorite, we just can't justify that sort of price for the number of weeks of use per year. There are better uses for the $$$$s.

I have never been aboard a Tollycraft, but the look of it is just not us. We're sailors and have chartered Carver, Chris Craft, and various other boats of their ilk. They don't get our heart pounding.

The '69 Stephens is a near sister ship to a friends boat by the same builder, but his is alloy. They are wonderful, and having grown up in S. Calif. that's a great place for one. The seas offshore north of Pt. Conception in California, Oregon and Washington give me pause to this sort of boat. They are fantastc Catalina and Calif. Delta boats, which is what they were designed for.

Sadly, there are fewer and fewer places that will accept a wooden boat. We're lucky with MAYAN because she's such an iconic and historic boats. The harbors want us as eye candy. But, even then both insurance and dockage is a risk. That said, this Stephens is one of the best. We know the way they're built. As I've said elsewhere around here Detroit engines are fine with me, and now that MTU is making parts for them again they are a real option.

Finally, perhaps because we've spent 60 years sailing boats with our head never higher than 12' above the sea surface, it always feels weird on a flying bridge. We understand we're "weird", but 3-deck boats feel like we're forever climbing stairs. Then there is the motion sickness issue for guests at higher altitudes. But the space is sure nice. I will chat with the Admiral about this.

Thanks again! Serenade, is giving us pause.

 

[mvweebles]

Did you catch whether the Stephens was aluminum or wood? Pretty sure all the Stephens from mid 60s onward were aluminum. I've only been aboard one and it was elegant and beautiful. A couple ran it up/down the coast from Mexico to PNW several times. The one I linked is stabilized and would be a very comfortable ride in Pacific waters.

I've always loved the lines of the Stephens. Fairly low, straight, flat lines that show a mid-century aesthetic. That changed in the 70s before they went out of business. Their last boats were traditional motor yacht styles.

Given your love of classics, here's a story that might interest you. I recall reading an article about billionaires and their choice of yachts. Nestled in the midst of 200-foot yachts was Paul DeJoria, owner of Patron Tequila and serial entrepreneur. Turns out he loves driving boats and hanging out with friends and wanted something he could run alone, without crew. He's also a fan of classics so he found an aluminum Chris Craft Connie and spent a kings ransom to restore it. Truly open checkbook. He sold it a few years later -

Boating: In the Stars

John Paul Dejoria likes to hit the road in his 1957 Chevy Bel Air and ride the tracks in his private 1927 American Car and Foundry Company railcar. So when the owner of Paul Mitchell Hair Systems and the Patrón Spirits Company (see “The Robb Reader,” page 144) decided it was time for a boat, […]

robbreport.com

I know what you mean about being high off the water. It's one of the reasons I love my little Willard 36. Another interesting sidebar - on last year's Baja Ha Ha, the boat that interested me most was a 60-foot Tom Wylie design owned by Randy Repass of West Marine fame. I think it was a schooner but the masts were almost identical height. One afternoon in Mag Bay there's a knock on my hull. Randy has dinghied over to admire my boat and restoration. Quite a compliment as he dinghied past close to a hundred anchored sailboats to seek out Weebles.

Peter

 

[backinblue]

Hello,

I've been sailing every sort of sailboat all my life. Lots of long distance cruising and racing as well as a live time of daysailing and racing locally. Now, as ancient-curmudgeon status approaches, my lovely understanding wife has strongly suggests we get on the water aboard something that doesn't require halyards, sheets, and reefing. I can't say I blame her, she's right as usual.

As a result, we're hunting around for the right size and shaped engine driven craft that will still feel like a boat to the two of us. We've spent a lot of time aboard lovely wooden sailboats that feel cozy and cave-like. The idea of big windows, sliding doors, and no flapping sails is hard to get used to, but we'll try.

See you all on the threads.

Beau

Many of us have made the exact same transition at some point. For us, we gave up sailing after about 3 boats and 30 years. After being boatless about a decade, we had a strong desire to get back on the water instead of sitting at the beach. We also did not want something that looked like a plastic bottle floating on the water. For us, a downeast style cruiser fit what we were looking for. It still looks and feels somewhat like a sailboat down below, and has the outside salty appearance of a lobster boat. We ended up in a Mainship Pilot with a single inboard diesel. We also considered Back Cove and Sabre. But there are many options that depend on how you intend to use it and how much space you think you need.

 

[BVrolyk]

Did you catch whether the Stephens was aluminum or wood? Pretty sure all the Stephens from mid 60s onward were aluminum. I've only been aboard one and it was elegant and beautiful. A couple ran it up/down the coast from Mexico to PNW several times. The one I linked is stabilized and would be a very comfortable ride in Pacific waters.

I've always loved the lines of the Stephens. Fairly low, straight, flat lines that show a mid-century aesthetic. That changed in the 70s before they went out of business. Their last boats were traditional motor yacht styles.

Given your love of classics, here's a story that might interest you. I recall reading an article about billionaires and their choice of yachts. Nestled in the midst of 200-foot yachts was Paul DeJoria, owner of Patron Tequila and serial entrepreneur. Turns out he loves driving boats and hanging out with friends and wanted something he could run alone, without crew. He's also a fan of classics so he found an aluminum Chris Craft Connie and spent a kings ransom to restore it. Truly open checkbook. He sold it a few years later -

Boating: In the Stars

John Paul Dejoria likes to hit the road in his 1957 Chevy Bel Air and ride the tracks in his private 1927 American Car and Foundry Company railcar. So when the owner of Paul Mitchell Hair Systems and the Patrón Spirits Company (see “The Robb Reader,” page 144) decided it was time for a boat, […]

robbreport.com

I know what you mean about being high off the water. It's one of the reasons I love my little Willard 36. Another interesting sidebar - on last year's Baja Ha Ha, the boat that interested me most was a 60-foot Tom Wylie design owned by Randy Repass of West Marine fame. I think it was a schooner but the masts were almost identical height. One afternoon in Mag Bay there's a knock on my hull. Randy has dinghied over to admire my boat and restoration. Quite a compliment as he dinghied past close to a hundred anchored sailboats to seek out Weebles.

Peter

Peter,

I know Randy pretty well. His lobster boat is wonderful. I have looked at those, but they aren't big enough for my wife and me, one of our 4 kids and spouse, and their two kids. We really need two cabins and the kids can sleep in the saloon.

We've looked at a lot of three cabin boats, with an aft cabin near the transom (like a Grand Banks 42 and the Albin 36) but there every time you want to go from one cabin to another there are steps. Fine for us now, not good later. Also, there isn't a "back porch" that is near the "living room and kitchen" as my non-sailing friends like to call it. Ideally, the sleeping accommodations would be up front, up a couple or three steps to the galley and steering station at the front, then an indoor seating area, and that would open up onto a aft deck that is only one step down to a swim step through a door in the transom.

We've found a few of these, but they're rare. I also have no use for a flying bridge. Just as I've no used for fully enclosed cockpits on sailboats. If it's wet out, wear weather gear. All of this leads me to some of Michael Peters' designs like SARISSA, WHITECAP, and some of the MJM powerboats (expensive). There is a Irens design like this too that's 63' long. By going long and low you pay more for a slip but a LOT less for fuel and have a better ride. You can find SARISSA here: Portfolio | Michael Peters Yacht Design under "yachts". She just did a SF to Victoria passage in 2 day with one 2 hour stop for fuel. Averaged 18 knots. burn 4 gal/hr. Going up the coast at that speed would be lovely. She's just a bit too small. WHITECAP is a bigger version, but not for sale.

BTW, the old 1920s Stephens were quite light and fast. There is a 55' version that we came close to buying. It has been re-powered with a pare of YANMAR 300hp diesels. It'll go 35 knots. But all that power broke a lot of ribs and she failed survey. She's fixed, so I'm told, and in Sausalito now. We love the way she looks, and can deal with 2 steps between levels, but there are only a few marinas left that will accept a wooden boat.

A good friend said last week: "Ah, you want a motorboat that's more like a sailboat than a house." That's about right. My lovely Admiral refers to it as an "Open plan boat, not a rabbit warren of little rooms on different levels."

 

[mvweebles]

Peter,

I know Randy pretty well. His lobster boat is wonderful. I have looked at those, but they aren't big enough for my wife and me, one of our 4 kids and spouse, and their two kids. We really need two cabins and the kids can sleep in the saloon.

We've looked at a lot of three cabin boats, with an aft cabin near the transom (like a Grand Banks 42 and the Albin 36) but there every time you want to go from one cabin to another there are steps. Fine for us now, not good later. Also, there isn't a "back porch" that is near the "living room and kitchen" as my non-sailing friends like to call it. Ideally, the sleeping accommodations would be up front, up a couple or three steps to the galley and steering station at the front, then an indoor seating area, and that would open up onto a aft deck that is only one step down to a swim step through a door in the transom.

We've found a few of these, but they're rare. I also have no use for a flying bridge. Just as I've no used for fully enclosed cockpits on sailboats. If it's wet out, wear weather gear. All of this leads me to some of Michael Peters' designs like SARISSA, WHITECAP, and some of the MJM powerboats (expensive). There is a Irens design like this too that's 63' long. By going long and low you pay more for a slip but a LOT less for fuel and have a better ride. You can find SARISSA here: Portfolio | Michael Peters Yacht Design under "yachts". She just did a SF to Victoria passage in 2 day with one 2 hour stop for fuel. Averaged 18 knots. burn 4 gal/hr. Going up the coast at that speed would be lovely. She's just a bit too small. WHITECAP is a bigger version, but not for sale.

BTW, the old 1920s Stephens were quite light and fast. There is a 55' version that we came close to buying. It has been re-powered with a pare of YANMAR 300hp diesels. It'll go 35 knots. But all that power broke a lot of ribs and she failed survey. She's fixed, so I'm told, and in Sausalito now. We love the way she looks, and can deal with 2 steps between levels, but there are only a few marinas left that will accept a wooden boat.

View attachment 160989

A good friend said last week: "Ah, you want a motorboat that's more like a sailboat than a house." That's about right. My lovely Admiral refers to it as an "Open plan boat, not a rabbit warren of little rooms on different levels."

The Stephens 55 has gorgeous lines. Work of art. The McQueens were built similarly - light and fast and they too broke a lot of ribs.

Listening to your likes/dislikes brought to mind a sport fishing boat. Huge back patio. Accomodations on one level. Your appreciation of classics reminded me that Wheeler Yachts reissued the 38-footer "Pilar" that was built for Earnest Hemingway back in the 1930s. Looks old but very posh. Also expensive I'd suppose.

Wheeler 38 | Wheeler Yacht Company

The New Wheeler 38 There is perhaps no better synthesis of boat-building history and modern technology than the new Wheeler 38. Old-School Meets High-Tech Every inch of the New Wheeler® 38 has been reverse-engineered from measurements taken from Wheeler Yacht’s Pilar. While the New Wheeler 38...

wheeleryachts.com

Best success in your search.

Peter

 

[ranger58sb]

Finally, perhaps because we've spent 60 years sailing boats with our head never higher than 12' above the sea surface, it always feels weird on a flying bridge. We understand we're "weird", but 3-deck boats feel like we're forever climbing stairs. Then there is the motion sickness issue for guests at higher altitudes. But the space is sure nice. I will chat with the Admiral about this.

We're on our third flybridge boat over about 30 years, have only had one person aboard in all that time who felt a little motion sickness. OTOH, she also gets motion sickness while watching a car moving on a TV show, so not necessarily a good test...

Agree, steps can be an issue. Stairs to the bridge better than ladders. OTOH, the view from a flying bridge can be MUCH/MUCH better. We live in a land of crab pots, so forward visibility downward toward the bow is very helpful. Especially when we get into an area where floats are covering a 10-mile (or so) stretch)... like at the confluence of the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay in late March/early April.

-Chris

 

[psneeld]

I had spent the first 40 years of my boating life as a recreational boater on a limited number of boats both sail and power. They were smaller skiffs, under 30 foot fishing boats with 2 liveaboards.... a 30 foot sail and 37 foot sportfish.

Then for about 20 years, after I got my USCG license and drove or cruised on literally hundreds of different kinds of boats and covered lots of water between Florida and Long Island, NY.... I gained at lesat 10X more knowledge, experience and soooo many more opinions on compromise boats.

I would say in my experience, many people with a tendency towards motion sickness often do better on the flying bridge due to the sight picture, fresh air and distraction of the skipper and discussions of captaining the boat. If conditions are right or get to the right point...doesn't matter where the sensitive are...they won't feel well.

While I got spoiled running vessels with pilothouses, I did still enjoy the flybridge on "those days" where it was the best place on earth other than sizzling along on a large sailboat and a fair wind. To me the visibility from the flybridge was at it's best when looking down through very clear water, or when the visibility from the pilothouse or lower helm was what most would thing as truly dismal.

To me...yes... flybridges can be for the young and/or agile. Dozens of trips up and down or rapid descents in cases of urgency or emergency can be tricky as we get older.

Flybridges or open cockpits (read sailboats) after all the boats I've cruised, are great when only boating in fair weather. If cold or wet, sure good foul weather gear is helpful. But until you have cruised by all those in oilies looking miserable while you are in shorts and a T-shirt in a temperature controlled, bright and airy pilothouse/lower helm...you really haven't gotten "old" yet.

When it comes to "speed" of cruising... having the option of going faster is always nice but does come at a price. If you would NEVER speed up, even in emergencies, then of course it wouldn't be something to consider. Me, after owning a slow only boat in addition to my sailboats.... my next boat (now that the nest egg is secure) would have the capability of speed.

So now after a lifetime of on or over the water, I still can't identify ANY boat that as the only boat would satisfy all my maritime cravings. Almost think it is to pick the best suited boat for your current maritime craving and pattern your purchases and sales to lose the least amount of money as you wind your way through life and various boats. If you think it is time for your last boat, I hope one's budget is pretty flexible as smaller compromise boats usually have lesser flexibility and often the operating/outfitting costs go up too.

 

[ranger58sb]

Flybridges or open cockpits (read sailboats) after all the boats I've cruised, are great when only boating in fair weather. If cold or wet, sure good foul weather gear is helpful.

Or enclosed flybridges with AC and heat can be decent enough, too.



-Chris

 

[psneeld]

Or enclosed flybridges with AC and heat can be decent enough, too.



-Chris

Sounds like an extra high elevated pilothouse when you have all the luxuries... maybe like those ocean going tugs with the elevated pilot house to see over tall barges.... but do admit your boat is prettier

Used to captain a few of the early 2000's 54 ft Sea Ray Motor Vessels. The flybridge had all the comforts including a queen size sun lounger (could be a bed) and a nice fridge and cooking space. All I had to do is add a porta pottie I would tell the owners that I wouldn't have to invade the rest of the boat for the duration.

 

[PierreR]

BVrolky, given the additional information you have provided, think about looking at a Krogen 48 Whaleback.
Everything is on one level except the pilot house and they are probably large enough to accommodate what you want.

 

[SWAN]

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1989-hans-christian-independence-45-9600569/

Take a look at this fresh water 1989 Hans Christian 45' Trawler. She's is in GREAT condition.

 

[Capt Ray]

I grew up sailing up and down the Maine coast in a 31' Seafarer sailboat. Full keel 5.5' draft. No radar, no loran, all dead reconning with chart compass and it seemed like we were always updating the deviation card at the helm. I was very comfortable in Maine's fog and drawing imaginary lines around lobster pots... I had several good sources of excellent training, and I soaked it all up!

I would typically go out late morning when the wind promised to pick up, and when cruising I'd time it to arrive with the setting sun in our faces. All my lobster men friends would be coming INTO port when I was going out. Ben Franklin's saying, "Early to bed early to rise makes a man health wealthy and wise." I thought is was a sign of a commendable work ethic.

Then my wife and I transitioned to power. It didn't take much more than 2 cruising days in the new-to-us power boat to say, "We gotta start at sunrise and be destinated by 1:00pm!" My lobstermen friends work working the best time of day to be out on open water.

White caps used to be my friend! swells and 15-20 mph winds not a problem. Even when we had the engine on, one or two sails up make the sailboat more stable. No such luxury in the powerboat of similar size as the 31 ft Seafarer... our current 39 footer ain't much better.

Everyone with a power boat with fin stabilizers tells me they LOVE them. If you don't like waiting for weather windows, and you want to GO (and go into open water like you are accustomed to, consider getting a boat large enough to accommodate the number of crew you expressed, consider adding stabilizers to your criteria.

The gyro stabilizers are also effective, but reportedly they can take 30-60 minutes to get up to the desired Rotor RPM. Putting them into a USED boat as an afterthought is also a challenge if the hull structure and bulkheads were not originally designed for the stresses of a spinning gyro trying to tame the seas.

So the difference in stability and time of day to be underway in open water will be two things to keep in mind.

We have a very popular Mainship 390 - no stabilizers - A third person aboard for 3-4 days is tolerable.
We have a conservative Go / No Go criteria so that our "pleasure boating" lives up to its label. Being stuck someplace for 5 or more days waiting for a good crossing weather window happens 3 or more times a year. We are full time live a-boards.

We live aboard full time, with no dirt home. We typically follow the seasons up and down the east coast ICW, we are comfortable on the outside north of Cape May or Manasquan Inlet. We just have to pick our days.

Read about our last eight+ years ago at Shellerina.com. The SEARCH tool works well if there are specific questions or just email me!

 

[amapola]

We sold our beautiful Tayana 37 in 2004 and went to the dark side with our 48' trawler. We've been so happy with our decision.

 

[Floridabaycoasterguy]

We also were lifelong sailors. As we got older we decided to switch to power but, being indecisive types, we bought a 46' motorsailer. Two years ago we decided we would live aboard 6 months a year and do the snowbird thing from NY to the keys. The Admiral said "I will live aboard for 6 months on a boat...but not that boat. You have to buy a bigger boat"....and when your wife says that...you do it. We sold the beautiful motorsailer and bought a 53' Defever which I must admit is very comfortable. When we were sailors at sea when the sound of the engine stopped we would go "Ahhhhhh". now when the sound of the engines stops at sea we go "Oh no!!!"